Volleyball players celebrating a point during a match in August, 2023
Josh Markowitz
3
Winner American Americ 7-5,1-0 Patriot
1
Holy Cross HolyCr 3-9,0-3 Patriot
Winner
American Americ
7-5,1-0 Patriot
3
Final
1
Holy Cross HolyCr
3-9,0-3 Patriot
Set Scores
Team 1 2 3 4 F
American Americ 18 25 32 25 (3)
Holy Cross HolyCr 25 19 30 22 (1)

Game Recap: Women's Volleyball |

Volleyball Wins Patriot League Opener at Holy Cross Behind 20 Kills from Uzen

WORCESTER, Mass. - It was a fight to the end and included a 32-30 win in set three, with American University volleyball ultimately posting a 3-1 victory at Holy Cross in the Eagles' Patriot League opener. Grad student Zeynep Uzen led all players with 20 kills, hitting .421 for the match.

By the Numbers
  • Uzen and freshman Sofia Osterdahl were the two players to record double digits in kills, with Osterdahl posting a career-high 16 kills.
  • Freshman Kaitlyn Evans knocked down a career-best five kills on seven attempts with zero errors, and also led all players in the match with a career-best six blocks.
  • Junior Bridget Javitch recorded 11 digs, and junior Esma Sipahi recorded 45 assists.
  • The Eagles had more kills, better hitting and more blocks, but struggled on the serve with a season-high 22 errors to just seven aces.
Notable
  • The service errors were too many to overcome for the Eagles in the first set, as they tallied eight of them and lost 25-18 despite having 10 kills to the Crusaders' eight.
  • The score was tied 9-9 in the opening set before Holy Cross used an 8-2 run to surge ahead.
  • Uzen picked it up in the second set and the Eagles followed her lead, out-hitting the Crusaders .290 to .091 on their way to a 25-19 win.
  • American went on a 6-1 run to turn an 11-9 lead into a 17-10 lead and cruised from there to even the match at 1-1.
  • The third set was one of the longer ones in program history, ultimately ending in a 32-30 win for the Eagles.
  • AU had a six-point lead at 13-7, but Holy Cross rallied and kept it close the rest of the way. 
  • It was the Crusaders to end up with the first set point, and then four more after that as American fought off each one, thanks mostly to Uzen who tied it back up three times.
  • The Eagles then had two of their own set points lost to the Crusaders before Carly Sciborski finally ended the set with a kill.
  • Uzen ended up with eight kills in the second set alone, and it was a strong one for AU with 20 kills and a hitting percentage of .447.
  • American was up most of the fourth set until Holy Cross went on a run for a 21-20 lead.
  • After a final tie at 22-22, freshman Holly Hopkins served up back-to-back aces for match point, and an error on Holy Cross was the final point AU needed for the win.
Next Up
  • American now heads to Army West Point on Saturday, Sept. 23 for a 4 p.m. Patriot League match.
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